But a crucial intercepted try by Rodd Penney plus the deadly boot of Glen Jackson and a late individual effort from Richard Haughton saw the Londoners home.

However, a late penalty from Shane Drahm ensured Warriors took a losing bonus point from an encounter they knew they could have taken even more from.

“It could have been very different; the gods don’t seem to be with us at the moment,” said Director of Rugby Ruddock.

“I thought we showed some good defensive shape and some good attacking moments with tons of movement of the ball and one fantastic try.

“But our own errors killed us; it’s difficult to put your finger on why things are going against us.”

With a crowd still rocking to the England result in the Rugby World Cup just an hour before, the noise was deafening as the two sides entered the battle for the crunch clash – a repeat of the final day thriller last season when Warriors secured top-flight status.

Worcester were again straight onto the front foot with James Brown pinning Saracens back with a kick to the corner that Neil de Kock could only slice into touch to give Warriors an early attacking platform. The pack flexed their muscles early to rumble forward 20 metres but when the ball was spun wide by Ryan Powell the ball was knocked on and the impetus lost.

Saracens finally made inroads on the Worcester line after eight minutes with full back Haughton hacking forward. Shane Drahm and Thinus Delport looked to have mopped up the trouble until a stray pass out wide found touch. The visitors mounted an attack out wide and when Mark Tucker was penalised they had the opening chance to break the deadlock. Up stepped Glen Jackson but his kick slipped wide.

Jackson also made a mess of a drop goal on ten minutes as his effort again sailed wide from 40 metres out as he was put under pressure by Craig Gillies.

Handling errors by Warriors was handing back possession to the visitors on regular intervals as the greasy ball proved difficult to handle and play an expansive game. But the Worcester pack was looking to dominate up front with the Saracens scrum really feeling the heat.

A clever kick from Brown again caused Saracens problems with Haughton knocking on as he was faced with a thundering Delport heading towards him.

Worcester were suddenly clicking into top gear with play spread left after good burrowing work from prop Tevita Taumoepeau and Drew Hickey. The ball eventually found Delport who looked to hand off his man before his inside flick to Mark Tucker just failed to find hands and squirmed into touch.

Dale Rasmussen was leading by example in midfield serving up some huge hits, Adam Powell twice knocked clean off his feet by monster blows.

Yet it was Saracens who took the lead on 19 minutes when Jackson drilled the ball through the posts after the home side were penalised by referee Martin Fox for going over the top.

Saracens were suddenly enjoying the greater possession and territory but Warriors were slamming the door shut on every occasion with the inspirational Rasmussen again getting the crowd on their feet with some stunning tackles on his opposite number.

The noise levels inside Sixways continued to mount as Warriors hunted a way back into the game and they did just that in stunning fashion on the half hour. A punt over the top from scrum half Powell caused panic as Haughton made a total mess of running back and collecting the ball. The Warriors pounced and a turnover saw the ball spun quickly right to the hands of Horstmann. He held off his man before a flick inside found the electric Marcel Garvey who pressed the accelerator and burnt in. Drahm added the extras from the touch line to give the home side a 7-3 lead.

Saracens hit back in fortunate fashion four minutes later. Worcester were dominating but as they looked to send the ball left a pass from Drahm was intercepted by Rodd Penney who could hardly believe his luck as he ran in from the halfway line. Jackson added the extras for a 10-7 advantage.

Worcester were straight back on the attack, though, with Phil Murphy taking the kick off and throwing it inside to Hickey. Warriors went hunting right for an immediate response with Tucker bursting through a hole before the ball was lost forward as the home side looked to keep it alive at all costs.

Saracens edged further ahead just before the break with another kick from Jackson after the home side was hit for coming in from the side.

There were no changes from either team at the break and Worcester soon had a chance to mount an attack with Haughton fumbling his attempted catch under no pressure into touch. The forwards roared forward 15 metres with the home crowd cranking up the volume with every yard made. Saracens were struggling to contain the surge and when they illegal pulled the pack down a penalty saw Brown kick for the corner. Saracens, though, held firm and Brown’s kick over the top failed to find the runners from deep.

Saracens nearly put daylight between them and Warriors after 50 minutes when Penney made a burst in midfield only to be dragged down by the backtracking Rasmussen and Tucker. The visitors seemed to have numbers out wide but could find no way past a blue and gold wall of defiance before the ball was again spilled on to the relief of home fans.

Another big blow from skipper Pat Sanderson on Cencus Johnstone again turned over possession before Garvey produced an inspired high take under pressure as the home side again lifted their game.

Gavin Quinnell entered the fray for Horstmann and immediately more power packed forward play saw a penalty awarded to Warriors. Drahm stepped up and drilled his kick to cut the lead to three points.

However, elation turned to despair minutes later when Quinnell was sinbinned by referee Fox for a high tackle. Jackson added the penalty to edge the visitors further ahead.

Drahm cut the deficit within two minutes after Saracens failed to roll away and the despite being down to 14 the Warriors were putting up a huge fight as they hunted a first win on home soil this term.

Warriors were now simply pinning Saracens back in their own half for long periods and with the pack enjoying real dominance, Drahm elected to kick for the corner with just over ten minutes left. However, the ball was turned over before Saracens struck the killer blow in the 70th minute. A booming high kick from Drahm was collected brilliantly by Haughton who – despite protests for obstruction from home fans – was allowed to press the turbos from inside his own half and tore through a tiring home defence to dive in the corner.

Warriors again struck back instantly and with Drahm showing nerves of steel to slot a late penalty they had secured a losing bonus point.

A late rally in the dying seconds had the home crowd on their feet, willing a repeat of the last gasp heroics against Wasps in the previous home game. But this time there was no fairytale ending as a forward pass saw referee Fox signal the end of the game and Warrior hopes.

Timeline:
19m Jackson p 0-3
30m Garvey t Drahm c 7-3
34m Penney t Jackson c 7-10
39m Jackson p 7-13
53m Drahm p 10-13
57m Jackson p 10-16
60m Drahm p 13-16
70m Haughton t 13-21
77m Drahm p 16-21

Warriors: 01 Darren Morris (Windo 58), 02 Chris Fortey (Gotting 72), 03 Tevita Taumoepeau, 04 Phil Murphy, 05 Craig Gillies, 06 Drew Hickey, 07 Pat Sanderson, 08 Kai Horstmann (Quinnell 51), 09 Ryan Powell (M Powell 66), 10 James Brown, 11 Marcel Garvey, 12 Mark Tucker, 13 Dale Rasmussen (Trueman 72), 14 Thinus Delport, 15 Shane Drahm

Replacements: 16 Tony Windo, 17 Ben Gotting, 18 Gavin Quinnell, 19 Will Bowley, 20 Matt Powell, 21 Gary Trueman, 22 Chris Pennell